Africa's Coronavirus 'Hotspots' in South Africa, Algeria, Cameroon: WHO

FILE PHOTO: Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, attends a briefing at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, May 23, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

Until such time as we have access to an effective vaccine, I'm afraid we'll probably have to live with a steady increase in the region, says Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Africa regional director.

Reuters Geneva
Last Updated: June 11, 2020, 3:52 PM IST

Africa will have a "steady increase" in COVID-19 cases until a vaccine is developed and strong public health measures are needed in current "hotspots" in South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

"Until such time as we have access to an effective vaccine, I'm afraid we'll probably have to live with a steady increase in the region, with some hotspots having to be managed in a number of countries, as is happening now in South Africa, Algeria, Cameroon for example, which require very strong public health measures, social distancing measures to take place," Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Africa regional director, told a Geneva briefing.